What's Your Take: Debarking Dogs?

What's Your Take: Debarking Dogs?

While barking is never pleasant for anyone involved, what's the first solution that pops into your head? Is it figuring out the cause . . . or stopping the noisy problem? The debarking surgery has been around for decades — essentially severing the dog's vocal cords — but has fallen out of favor since the concept sounds cruel to many people.

Beyond less invasive citronella and electric collar techniques (which still get critiqued), the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends that the surgery only be done "after behavioral modification efforts to correct excessive vocalization have failed." It's probably not easy to find a vet willing to perform this, but a recent New York Times article called it a useful option for owners facing noise complaints and possible eviction. Could you give this the green light?

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5 years

Having rescued a lab mix that didn't bark, but shrieked we had the surgery done. We were living in an animal-friendly appt. at the time, but knew that it was only a matter of time before they told us that either he or we left. He didn't deserve to die, so we tried three different muzzles during the day, none of which he kept on. I will never use a shock collar as a solution, so having met a dog that had been "de-barked" I called area vets. One would not do the procedure, and the other had no problem. He left after an overnight stay, with less apparent trauma then neutering, still attempted to bark as normal, but only a slight whisper came out. This dog, who was six at the time, lived to a safe, ripe old age of seventeen as a socially-appropriate citizen. When you run out of options, "de-barking" can be a life-saving one.

5 years

Alikazzam is absolutely right, and also people, please take note that he/she is also the only one here who has actual facts and experience with the issue. Anyone can throw out rude and ignorant comments bashing something they know nothing about calling it cruel, unfortunately no one else here has said anything of any merit. Please, if you don't know what you're talking about, keep your opinion to yourself. It is at best, completely worthless to anyone who actually wants to gather valid information about this surgery.
I've read several of these debates over debarking, and honestly, time and time again, the only people who say it's cruel etc. are the people who have never been faced with the decision. They are also the people who regurgitate things they have read others post, which are not facts. If you're going to voice your opinion so strongly that it's offensive, perhaps you should be a respectable human being and education yourself on the topic first. It's like any other issue. It's not black and white.
There are several people out there debating about similarly "controversial and cruel" things like spaying and neutering. This is just as ignorant a debate. Anyone who thinks a dog's main form of communication is barking, shouldn't even own a dog. To say someone who is being faced with eviction and will do whatever it takes to keep their dog shouldn't own a dog...are you serious? Are you the type of person to ditch your dog when it becomes inconvenient? Sounds like it to me!
If people in suburban communities and apartments didn't own dogs, millions more dogs would be put to sleep. Is that a better option? If someone has to downsize into an apartment from a home and they have neighbours who complain, do you really have the nerve to say they are at fault? That's just ignorant on so many levels.
Dogs are not babies. To attribute to them human emotions and cognitions is again ignorant. I know plenty of people who've owned dogs who have had to have limbs amputated, one had an eye removed, my own dogs have had teeth removed, been spayed and neutered, etc. my brothers dog was actually born unable to bark, and what do you know....he's perfectly fine!!!!! In each and every single one of these cases the dogs have been up and running around like nothing happened in no time. How can a semi-intelligent person possibly argue that quieting a dogs bark in a quick out-patient procedure could be so devastating and life altering to a dog? Have you met a dog? They are clearly much more resilient than you give them credit for.
To anyone here to actually gather useful information, I would suggest locating a vet in your area who does the procedure and discussing it with them. They are the only ones who know what they are talking about and can council you on the pros and cons of the procedure. In addition, weed through these forums and ignore any comments from people who have either no experience with the issue, or have nothing of any substance to contribute to the discussion. There are several people who have experience with debarking, and they are the people who I suggest you listen to. Unfortunately, as with this site, you will have to wade through a pile of waste to get to the useful info.
Good Luck.

5 years

I completely agree with you Naomi77! Right on! Having a pet is like having a child......if you can't handle the responsibility, time and finances that come along with owning a pet, think again!

5 years

We are in the process of trying to decide whether to debark a dog we rescued that we thought was a Corgi mix, but turned out (after a year of ongoing piercing barking and DNA testing) to be a Sheltie/Daschund mix. Apparently, Shelties, Collies and other herding dogs are the breeds most likely to be debarked for "nuisance" barking. We love our dog and have tried every non-surgical method available, but nothing has made a dent in the problem, and even small temporary reductions in barking have made her act depressed - she truly lives to bark. We homeschool our kids and our dear dog's constant barking in the house makes maintaining a learning environment almost impossible. So, we now have to choose whether to send this two-year-old sweetie on to a third owner (who may wind up having her debarked or euthanized anyway) via the SPCA or whether to put her through debarking surgery with its possible risks. This is a decision that has been weighing heavily on us - I wish it were an easier one.

5 years

Nope it is not comparable, as nothing is done to the larynx or voice box, the snip is made in the vocal chords or folds and unlike tonsils, there is extremely little, if any, removal of tissue. As I said above, it results in them not being able to resonate or "twang" as much, ergo lessening the pitch but leaving them fully capable of barking. Your comment about not getting a dog if you can't deal with the barking is akin to telling me not to have a child because they might scream, cry, or yell. I've had both, children, and some dogs "surgically hushed", and saw a lot less trama with the dogs then when my kids had their tonsils out.

5 years

actually, it is NOT comparable to taking out a child's tonsils (which serve no life-altering purpose). The number one reason for a larynx (aka voice box) is to protect the airway. its secondary purpose (in both humans and animals) is to produce voice. Damaging this mechanism in any way can be detrimental to its primary purpose, protecting the airway. as someone said before, if you can't handle barking, dont get a dog.

5 years

It is really too bad there is so much misconception on this procedure. It can be life-saving for many dogs who have a lot to say for themselves. It does NOT mute them, they can still bark, you can still hear them and you can still hear differences in their bark. It simplys lowers the pitch of the bark, like putting a muffler on your car or motorcycle. The sound is still there, it just isn't as loud nor does it carry as far. Done by a knowledgeable vet there is no danger to your pet. They would only be sedated for a short period of time and are up, eating and barking (though lower pitched)and running around the same day. They have no reaction to the lesening of thir own sound, nor do any compaions they might share space with. For those who have multiple dogs, or who live where a barking dog is not appreciated, it can be life-saving for the dog and also allows the owner to keep their companion. It is no crueler then having a childs tonsils removed, and is even less invasive then that. Vocal chords and/or voice box is NOT removed nor are they severed, only a snip is made in the vocal cords so they don't resonate as much. I would like to know what is consider cheaper and an easier way to correct a barky dog ? I've not found anything that would work with a "talkative" dog.

I don't think the dog owners are necessarily the culprits, it's their impatient, inhumane neighbors who drive them to do it. While I understand that neighbors should not be subject to a dog who barks incessantly, there are appropriate times when a dog has to bark, just as a person has to communicate. If people don't ever want to hear the bark of a dog, they should not move into buildings/neighborhoods where there are dogs. And likewise, dog owners should not move into buildings/neighborhoods were dogs are not allowed.

That is completely disgusting! My little Louie is definitely a barker and he barks all the time but, that's his way of telling me something. I can even tell the difference in his barks to what he's wanting. There is no way in hell that I would consider something as cruel as that! That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard! If you dont want to hear a dog bark then don't get one because that's what dogs do!

5 years

i dont know much about dog's anatomy.... but if its relatively similar to humans, i imagine intentionally severing a dogs vocal fold could have damaging effects on his respiration and put them at risk for aspiration. our vocal folds protect our airway - when they are damaged or paralyzed, we lack that protection and we can aspirate food, liquid or salivia, which can lead to pneumonia. Is getting rid of your dog's bark worth putting him at risk for choking and pneumonia?

Yuck! Call this what it is... mutilation. Cruel and unnecessary (like docking dogs' tails and cropping their ears, I think we should do away with those idiotic cosmetic procedures as well!)
Also, you can teach your dogs not to bark.
I'd suggest reading "How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend" to anyone who has a problem with a loud dog.

This breaks my heart and makes me furious at the same time. Maybe people who are getting evicted shouldn't have gotten the dog in the first place! For goodness sake people, don't get a dog if you can't deal with the consequences or responsibilities that come with owning an animal!

5 years

It doesn't keep them from barking... it just makes them sound like they are dying when they try. An old neighbor of mine had a rescue that had been "de-barked". He just sounded like an old smoker.
There are far easier, less painful and CHEAPER methods to keep your dog from barking.